Inking system



06f 30, 1962 R. L. HoELzER E'rAL 3,060,852'

INKING SYSTEM Filed 00T.. 6, 1960 Passe/ 370 3,060,852 INKING SYSTEM Russell L. Hoelzer, Fairview Park, and George J. Schmidt,

Cleveland, Ohio, assignors to The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Mich., a corporation lof Delaware Filed (ict. 6, 1960, Ser. No. 60,840 6 Claims. (Cl. 101-364) This invention relates to an inking system for use on flexographic and gravure printing presses.

Inkin-g systems generally used in Ithe trade for circulating solvent type inks and coatings in -the ink fountains of flexographic and gravure printing presses, utilize a single pan type fountain and a remote ink sump and pump with connecting hoses for circulating the ink between the sump and the fountain. In a typical four color press there are eight ink hoses draped over or around the press which must be removed and replaced each time a new job is set up, and four sumps .and ink pumps setting on the floor adjacent to the press which are always in the way. It can be appreciated Ithat such an arrangement is diicult to clean, or wash up in the vernacular of the trade, is awkward to Ihandle, involves high maintenance cost in hose replacement, and creates problems of ink contamination due to faulty cleaning of hoses, or decomposition of hoses by solvent attack. Good circulation of the ink is essential for attainment of uniform color and ink coating thickness, and overall high quality printing. Ink contamination results in rapid wear and deterioration of printing plates and cylinders,

and not only adds -to maintenance cost, but produces poor n quality printing.

The inking system of the invention avoids the shortcomings of inking arrangements of the prior art. More particularly, it eliminates entirely the use of a remote ink sump and pump with connecting hoses for circulation of ink. Consequently, it avoids the problem of ink contamination caused by decomposition of hoses by solvent attack. I-t will be -found that the inking system of the invention is generally less costly to install, and has lower maintenance costs as compared with inking sys- Items in use. Furthermore, it provides good circulation of ink which is thoroughly mixed and continuously applied to the inking roll.

Our copending application Serial No. 36,864, tiled June 17, 1960, discloses -a pump which may he used in the inking system of the present invention. Briefly, the inking system disclosed herein comprises a one piece fountain and sump, and a centrifugal pump that lifts the ink from the lowest part of the sump and discharges it into the fountain at, or near the middle thereof. The ink moves outwardly toward both ends of the fountain so that the inking roll is constantly supplied with a fresh supply of ink throughout full length. The ink level in the Ifountain is maintained by a Weir, or dam, over which the ink ows for return to the sump. The inking system of the invention requires less ink to fill the system -as compared with inking systems heretofore in use. It will be apparent from the disclosure which follows, that the inking system of the invention provides a simple, compact, and superior solution to the problem of inking a roller in a printing press.

'I'he main object of Ithis invention is to provide an improved inking system for use in flexographic and gravure printing presses.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved inking system for printing presses which avoids ink contamination, and which is less costly to install and maintain.

A more specific object is to provide an inking system for printing presses which eliminates the need for connecting hoses for ink circulation.

3,050,852 Patented Oct. 30, 1962 fic Another object is to provide an inking system for printing presses wherein a thoroughly mixed, regulated quantity of ink is continuously fed to an inking roll.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an inking system for a printing press which requires less ink, .and is simple, compact and superior to inking systems of prior art inking systems for printing presses.

These and further objects and features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description and accompanying drawing wherein:

PIG. 1 is 'a vertical section view of apparatus used in the inking system of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective-like illustration of a fountain and sump pan forming part of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawing, the numeral 6 identifies an inking roll which is arranged in engagement with a transfer roll 8, hoth rolls forming part of a printing press (not shown) for use in flexographic and gravure printing. A combination lfountain and sump pan 10 is adapted for holding `a given quantity of printing ink, which pan is formed of a single piece of sheet metal 12, to which, end or side wall pieces 14 have -been affixed in water-tight manner, as by welding. The pan has two curved bottom, trou=gh-like portions, the upper portion 16 serving as an ink fountain for maintaining a constant level of ink 18 in which the inking roll 6 is parti-ally submerged, while the lower portion 20 of Ithe pan serves as a sump. The sump is .of such capacity as -to provide a reservoir for .a volume of ink as required for the size of .press and nature of the printing job. A notch 21 is provided in each side -wall for straddling the shaft of the inking roll 6. The fountain portion is in a higher horizontal position -as compared to the sump portion.

Between the fountain and sump portions is a wall 22 arranged to maintain -a desired level of ink in the fountain portion 16, lthe wall at each end being short of a respective side wall 14 so that -a line of junction 24 of the pan portions 16, 20, serves as a weir, or dam, for metering the flow of ink to the sump portion. A hand, or strap means v26 is secured -to the bottom of -the pan 10 at the mid-region for stiiening purposes, while the edge 28 of the sump portion is =bent for engagement with a horizontal support bar 30, the ends of which are adapted to he held by the structure of the printing press. A second horizontal support Ibar 32 is arranged beneath the pan along -the junction line 24, the ends of which are likewise adapted to be held by the structure of the printing press. In such manner, the pan 10 is removably supported in required position, as shown.

A block 34 is mounted upon the edge 28 at the midregion thereof which is adapted to support at one end a bar, or platform 36, the other end of the platform resting upon the wall 22. Platform 36 is arranged to operatively support a pump 38 which is .adapted to pump the ink from the snmp portion 20 into the fountain portion 16. The pump 38, is of the centrifugal type, and details thereof are fully disclosed in our copending application Serial No. 36,864. It will be seen that the pump 38 lifts the ink from the sump portion 20 and discharges it into the mid-region of the fountain portion 16, from whence it -ows toward each side wall 14, and eventually over the dam, by gravity back into the `sump portion. In such manner, the inking roll 6 continuously receives a thoroughly mixed and regulated supply of ink.

It will be seen from the foregoing description, lthat the inking system yof the invention will fully satisfy all of the objectives initially set forth. While the description of the invention has been given in detail, it is conceded that various changes may -be made in the embodiment without `departing from the spirit of the invention and accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. ln an inking system for printing presses a pan means for holding a given quantity o-f printing ink, said pan means including a fountain portion and a sump portion, said fountain portion being arranged to continuously receive -a given supply of thoroughly mixed ink for application to an inking roll and to allow flow of excess ink t-o the sump portion, a weir means -for metering flow of ink from -the fountain portion to the sump portion, land means for pumping ink from the sump portion to the fountain portion.

2. In an inking system for printing presses, :a pan means for holding a given quantity of printing ink, said pan means, including a fountain portion and a sump portion integral therewith, said `fountain portion lbeing ladapted for positioning in a higher horizontalY position relative 'to the sump portion and being further arranged to receive a supply of thoroughly mixed ink for application to an inking roll and to -allow flow of ink n excess of a predetermined level back into the Sump portion, a weir means for metering flow of ink from the yfountain portion of the sump portion, and means for pumping ink from the sump portion to the fountain por-tion.

3, In an inking system for printing presses, a pan means for holding =a given quantity 4of printing ink, -said pan means including a fountain portion and .a sump portion integral therewith, side walls Aaffixed in water-tight manner to the fountain and sump portions, a wall farranged fbetween said portions and in spaced relation to each side wall to maintain `a supply of ink in the .fountain portion so that -an inking roll may be partially submerged therein with the excess ink dlowing by gravity into the sump portion, and means for pumping ink from the sump portion and delivering it to the mid-region of the fountain portion.

4. A pan means for use in an inking system for a printing press comprising, a single piece of sheet metal formed to provide two round bottom trough-like portions one 4 of which serves as a fountain portion the other serving as a sump portion, said yfountain portion -being adapted for positioning in a higher horizontal position relative to the sump portion, an end wall aliixed in water-tight manner to each edge of. said portions, a wall arranged between said portions and in spaced relation to said end walls to maintain ink in the fountain portion so that an inking roll may be partially submerged therein with the excess of ink flowing by gravity into the lsump portion, and means to support a pump for pumping ink from the sump portion of the fountain portion.

5. A pan 4means for use in an inking system for a printing press comprising, a single piece Vof sheet metal formed to provide two round bottom trough-like portions one of which serves as a fountain portion the other serving as a sump portion, said fountain p-ortion being adapted for positioning in a higher horizontal position relative to the sump portion, an end wall aixed in watertight manner to each edge of said portions, a wall arranged between said portions at the junction line thereof, `said wall being in equally spaced relation -to Veach side wall to provide weirs at the junction line whereby a given level of ink is maintained in the fountain portion, and means to support a pump for pumping ink from the sump portion -to the fountain portion.

6. A pan means for use in anY inking system for Ia printing press according to claim 5, wherein the means to support -a pump comprises a lblock which is secured to the sump portion -at-the mid-region thereof, and a platform extending between said block and said wall.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 687,752 Hewston Dec. 3, 1901 2,018,959 Jordhoy Oct. 29, 1935 2,573,336 Holrnwood Oct. 30, 1951 2,739,567 Jones etal Mar. 27, 1956 2,930,349 Jones et fal. May 29, 1960 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent No. 3,060,852 ocx-ober 3o, `-`1962 Russell Lt Hoelzer et ale lt s hereby certified that error appears in the above vlflumbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 3, line 22 for "of read to Signed and sealed this 18th day of June 1965i2 (SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST w. SWTDEE DAVID L- LADD Attesting- Officer Commissioner of Patents 

